Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer

Serious injuries can change your life and leave you with expensive medical costs, the inability to work, and pain and suffering. It is only right that the liable party pays for your personal injury damages.

A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer withChalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers will help establish the defendant’s fault and liability. Then, we will fight for your rights and secure the financial compensation to which you are legally entitled.

Types of Accidents Our Personal Injury Firm Can Handle

Personal injury cases cover many different types of accidents. Some of the common types of injury accidents we handle include:

• Bicycle accidents
• Birth injury
• Boating accidents
• Car accidents
• Construction accidents
• Dog bites
• Medical malpractice
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Truck accidents
• Wrongful death

Even if you don’t see the type of accident you were involved in listed here, we still want to listen to your story and see how our attorneys can help you.

Usually, if you suffered injuries that another party caused, you may have a valid injury case.

Find a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer
Near Me (954) 476-1000

Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Can Exercise Your Rights

Our lawyers can help you build a case that proves fault, liability, and the value of your damages so we can fight for fair compensation.

Florida requires that we establish your personal injury case meets these four criteria:

The Other Party’s Duty Is to Provide You With the Highest Standard of Care

The other party owed you a legal duty of care, meaning the defendant had a duty to behave reasonably so as not to harm you.

To name some examples:

• Drivers must drive safely and not endanger others.
• Property owners must keep their premises free of hazards
• Physicians must provide you with the utmost standard of care.

The Other Party doesn’t Follow Through With Their Duty

The other party breached their legal duty of care by acting negligently. Using the same examples as above:

• A driver decides to speed or operate a vehicle while drunk.
• A property owner doesn’t put a caution sign up to warn visitors about a broken floorboard.
• A physician operates on the wrong side of the body.

This Lack of Care Leads to Your Injuries

We must also establish that the defendant’s negligence caused your accident and injuries. In some cases, we may work with medical experts to testify that your accident caused your injuries—not some other incident.

Your Injuries Caused You Financial and Non-Financial Struggles

We must provide evidence that you suffered damages as a result of the accident. Damages include the physical, emotional, and financial effects of your injuries.

Note that Florida is a pure comparative negligence state, per Florida Statutes § 768.81. You can still seek compensation for an accident for which you are partly to blame. However, your partial fault will reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault. Thus, it is essential to collect all available evidence to establish the defendant’s fault.

Chalik & Chalik Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (954) 476-1000

Recoverable Damages in a Personal Injury Case

We take a personal approach with our clients to get to know them and how their injuries affect their day-to-day lives. We want to understand how your injuries are impacting you physically and emotionally, as well as financially.

Some of the damages we may seek to recover in your personal injury claim or lawsuit include:

• Medical costs (current and future)
• Lost wages and benefits
• Diminished earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Diminished quality of life

The types of damages we may seek depend on how the accident and your injuries have affected you. For example, let’s say you got into a serious rear-end collision on I-95 and sustained spinal cord injuries and permanent disfigurement. You would probably be entitled to more compensation than someone who slipped and fell at The Galleria and had minor injuries.

If You lost a Loved One in an Accident

Our wrongful death lawyers can help you and your family after the loss of a loved one to fatal accident injuries. We can seek compensation for a variety of losses, such as:

• Funeral and burial or cremation services
• Loss of inheritance for the income your loved one provided to the household
• Loss of consortium for the companionship and services they offered
• Your loved one’s accident-related medical expenses
• Your loved one’s pain and suffering

Not everyone can file a wrongful death lawsuit, though. Typically, a representative of the deceased’s estate files such a lawsuit. If your loved one did not leave a will naming a representative, the court can appoint one. When you discuss your loved one’s accident with our personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can go over who in your family may have the right to take legal action.

You deserve time to grieve in peace and fair compensation to properly honor your loved one’s memory. You can let our legal team handle the process while you spend time with your family. 

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You Have a Certain Amount of Time to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida

Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is four years underFlorida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). This deadline means that we must file a personal injury lawsuit within four years from the accident date, with few exceptions. For example, if you were a victim of medical malpractice, you would have two years from the date of discovery to take action, perFlorida Statutes § 95.11(4)(b).

Getting started as early as possible affords your lawyer the time to investigate what happened and collect the evidence needed to build a compelling case. In addition, it helps prevent us from missing the statute of limitations. If that were to happen, the state would bar you from collecting any damages.

Your lawyer serving Fort Lauderdale can make sure you file your personal injury case on time and meet other applicable deadlines if you give us enough notice. From there, they can help streamline the legal process as much as possible. 

Still, it takes time to build a case. Our personal injury attorneys in Fort Lauderdale have to conduct an investigation, gather evidence of negligence, and negotiate with insurers. The sooner you begin working on your case, the better. 

For a free legal consultation with a Chalik & Chalik lawyer serving Fort Lauderdale, call (954) 476-1000

Affording Our Legal Services After You Were Hurt in Fort Lauderdale

Medical expenses and other costs that come with an accident add up quickly, so retaining legal assistance afterward can seem implausible. However, Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers works on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning there are no charges:

• Up front
• Out of pocket
• Hourly
• For retainment

Your lawyer will only take their payment if they secure a favorable financial outcome for you. Otherwise, there is no need to reimburse us. This allows you to pursue compensation without incurring additional risks of financial loss. It also gives you the confidence that we are working our hardest to obtain fair compensation for your losses. 

How We Can Help You with Your Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Case

Our attorneys’ goal is to provide you with honest and personalized legal representation. In doing so, we will manage your personal injury case while you focus on your physical and mental well-being.

Complimentary Consultation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The details of every personal injury case differ. We must get to know you and your case so we can take the appropriate legal steps to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Collecting Types of Evidence that Might Be Helpful to Your Case

Any personal injury case must establish the defendant’s fault and liability. Our personal injury law firm can assist you in collecting the necessary documents and evidence to establish the defendant’s fault.

• Police report
• Accident or incident report
• Medical records
• Eyewitness statements
• Income statements
• Photographs of the accident scene
• Video surveillance footage
• Expert witness testimony

Navigating the Personal Injury Legal Process

We can assist you by handling all communications with insurance companies and other lawyers, evaluating settlement offers, and ensuring your case meets Florida’s statute of limitations and other deadlines.

We can also help negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company. If the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer, we are prepared to take the case to court and represent you in litigation.

Communication Throughout Your Personal Injury Case

The last thing you want when choosing a law firm is to feel left in the dark. The legal team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers returns phone calls and emails and will keep you up to date with the latest developments in your case. 

When you work with a lawyer at our family-owned firm, you hire our family to fight for yours.

Providing Client-Focused Legal Care

You should never have to feel like another case file on a desk. When you work with Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers, you will receive the personalized legal representation you deserve. We never apply a one-size-fits-all approach to our personal injury cases. Instead, we tailor our legal strategy to suit the needs of each individual client. 

For example, we may suggest starting your case with legal action instead of negotiating a settlement with an insurance company. Each case is unique and requires different strategies. We will make it a point to listen to your story and figure out what the best course of action is. 

We Educate Our Clients about the Legal Process

We pride ourselves on being transparent with our clients. Part of this process involves educating them throughout the legal process so they can understand what is going on and take control of their cases. We invite you to browse through our blog and FAQ page to learn more about specific areas of personal injury law. We even have videos and a legal glossary to help you learn about different aspects of the legal process. 

The more you know about your case, the better you can make decisions about it. We want to shed light on how personal injury law works, and you can come to us with any additional questions you have along the way. 

Our Clients Can Speak to How We Prioritize Them More than Anything

At Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers, we work to get our clients the means they need to move forward following an accident. One of our case results includes a $22.1 million award for a client who suffered a catastrophic injury due to a defective product.

You can count on our lawyers to provide you with the same care as other clients. Some have shared their experience in the following reviews:

• “Very clean office, professional staff, and the highest quality of service, because of Jason Chaliks tenacity, and fierceness in the courtroom I was awarded 250,000$ in a slip & fall injury. Thanks Chalik & Chalik!!!!” – Jeffrey H.
• “I really cant say enough great things about this Firm. Honest, ethical and great communicators. Dell, made me feel like family and answered all my questions numerous times. The experience that Jason and his team have is quite obvious. They kept me [informed] about my case at all times…” – Charles P.

 You can check out moreclient testimonials to learn more about what it’s like working with us.

Top Causes of Personal Injury Cases in Fort Lauderdale

According to theNational Safety Council (NSC), preventable injury-related deaths are one of the top causes of death across the U.S. In 2020, the U.S. documented 5.4 million preventable injuries and over 200,000 preventable deaths. And the numbers show no signs of decreasing.

Florida is no exception. Some causes of preventable injuries in Florida include:

Poisoning

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that most poisonings result from unintentional drug overdoses linked to opioid usage. These overdoses can stem frommedical negligence when prescribing doctors do not inform patients of the risk associated with taking opioids.

Additional risk factors can include prescribing:

• the wrong dosage
• the wrong medication for a condition
• A medication too potent for the patient’s age or health

Medical providers have to afford each patient a standard of care that includes prescribing appropriate medication in safe dosages. If they failed to consider your medical history, for example, and it leads to an adverse drug reaction, they may be liable for your injuries and losses. 

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Miami New Times noted that I-95 in Fort Lauderdale is one of the country’s most dangerous one-mile stretches of highway, seeing 91,000 accidents in the past 20 years—50 times the national average. Motor vehicle accidents can include truck accidents, passenger vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and others. 

Slip and Falls

A slip and fall accident refers to when a person slips and trips and is injured on another person’s property. This can happen anywhere, including at work, in public places, in nursing homes, and outdoors. 

Common reasons for these falls include poor lighting, cracked sidewalks, rain, ice, and snow, among other things. These accidents can cause severe injuries to the back, spine, and skull.

Property owners have a responsibility to keep invitees and patrons reasonably safe while on their premises. Even if they did not know about a hazard that caused your accident-related injuries, we may be able to show that they should have known about it. 

For example, if you slipped and fell on a puddle that formed below a leaky ceiling, our investigation may reveal that the property owner neglected to conduct necessary maintenance on the roof for some time. This can help us establish their negligence and hold them accountable for your losses.  

Other Types of Personal Injury Accidents

Personal injury encompasses a wide range of accidents. If you experienced a motorcycle accident, truck accident, or even a dog bite, you could have a case. If you are unsure about whether your injuries warrant compensation, do not guess. 

You can take advantage of our free consultations to get an idea of how a personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can help. These consultations also come with no obligation. You may discover you have more compensable damages than you previously thought. 

Moving Forward after a Personal Injury in Fort Lauderdale

Your actions following an accident in Fort Lauderdale can make or break your case. Insurers can employ deceptive tactics to keep you from claiming compensation. While your personal injury attorneys can handle the legal process, there are a couple of things you should consider acting on. 

You can protect yourself and your right to a settlement by following the steps below.

Go to the Doctor

If medical attention is not provided at the scene, seek help immediately. A medical professional will assess your injuries, treat you and provide a complete summary of your injuries. Refusing or delaying medical help can seriously hurt your injury claim.

For example, if you delay or forgo medical care, an insurer may try to argue that you contributed to your injuries and losses. They can then move to undervalue or outright deny your claim. 

Furthermore, our personal injury attorneys can use your medical records to establish your losses and connect them to another party’s negligence. This is particularly helpful if you will likely incur future medical expenses. For example, if you suffer from a permanent impairment, you may require physical therapy and in-home aid for years. 

You shouldn’t have to pay this price when someone else caused or contributed to your injuries. See a doctor as soon as possible and follow through with your prescribed treatment plan. 

File a Police Report

If you were involved in a car accident or have sustained serious or life-threatening injuries, you should file a police report immediately. The responding officer will document the facts of your case, which can provide evidence against the at-fault party. You can submit a police report to theFort Lauderdale Police Department.

Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury team can also help obtain the official police report when we gather evidence for your case. You won’t have to sift through the paperwork. We can compile all the documentation needed for your case. 

Don’t Admit Fault

Depending on the circumstances, you may feel guilty about what happened, especially if someone else was also hurt. However, by expressing guilt, apologizing, or stating that it’s your fault, you can lose any compensation you were entitled to.

Don’t Provide an Official Statement

Recorded statements can be used against you during your claim. Insurers may use your words to contradict you, dismiss your case, or worse, place you at fault for your injuries.

If you have to give a statement to an insurer, it’s best to stick to the facts, such as the time and location of the accident and the vehicles involved. Avoid going into too much detail since an insurer may use anything you say to undervalue or deny your claim. 

From there, you can refer an insurer to your Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers for more information. We can communicate with them on your behalf. 

Consider Working with a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer

The best way to succeed in your case is to be informed of your rights and hire an attorney to uphold those rights under Florida law. Our personal injury attorneys are prepared to represent your interests with the insurance company and get you everything owed to you.

Keep in mind that insurance companies usually have teams of defense attorneys at their disposal. With a personal injury lawyer on your side, you can face them with confidence. We will shield you from any bad-faith practices on their part. 

Hire a Personal Injury Attorney at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Today

Whether you experienced a personal injury from a slip and fall or you were in a severe car accident that another driver caused, we can help. After an accident, you deserve to rest and focus on your health, not hassle with the legal process. This is a challenge our personal injury law firm can take off your shoulders. 

One of our lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, FL, could help you recover the compensation you need to pay the bills, get medical care, and more. Call Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.

Call or text Chalik & Chalik (954) 476-1000